Scissor keeper, pin cushion & pin box

One of the blogs I read is Sandra of  Cherry Heart and just over a year ago she posted a lovely little crochet Boho Heart she had designed. (She has a lovely blog and it's well worth a look if you have time, with lots of pretty things she's made - some with a free tutorial and some with patterns for sale.)

I used Sandra's pattern to make myself a little padded scissor keeper. It's also very handy to use as mini pin cushion/needle holder when you're crocheting or sewing and constantly cutting off ends etc.

I simply followed Sandra's pattern and made 2 hearts, then crocheted them together with a little stuffing inside. I added a few beads as decoration and a crocheted loop to attach it to my scissors.

I thought it would be nice to make one for Mara to go with the little pink scissors I've bought - 

As soon as it was done I got cracking with the pin cushion. (The decorating is drawing to a conclusion so we were able to put the dining table up - hence the sewing machine came out to play for this one!!) I used the lovely floral fabric from the needle-case and the last scrap of lace from her book cover on one side, and that last teeny piece of pink gingham managed to sneak in on the other side. I had seen some lovely pink polka dot binding that had a little white picot edge and just had to buy some. However, it was very hard to attach and doesn't look brilliant. Had I thought through mitring the corners and joining the ends, I would never have used it... 

Those sweet little heart topped pins you can see in the picture needed an equally sweet little box to keep them in. I used an empty swan vesta match box, which I gave a couple of coats of pva glue to stiffen it nicely. Then it was covered on the outside with some pink patterned paper and the inside had a pink felt lining.

(It actually took ages to make but turned out well.)

(Update - Do NOT line your pin box with felt! Your pins will grab hold every time you try to put them in! Line with paper.)

Then I returned to the needle-case one last time. I had emailed a lot of the staff at work asking them to each donate a button or 2 to go in the sewing kit. Some of the buttons were so lovely that I stitched them into the needle-case. In the front I put an antique glass button from a 1950's dress. And in the back, several colourful buttons.

I think I've made everything I wanted to, so it's time I actually put together the complete sewing kit.

But that will get it's own post!

Needle-case Ta-Dah!!

Well, here it is!! Mara's needle-case is finally finished.

I've decided to do a photo tutorial on a separate page as there are quite a lot of pics.

Find it here.

There are no measurements given though. I simply made it in a size that would fit inside the little tin I bought to hold the sewing kit I'm putting together for Mara. This little tin here -

 And as the gingham had it's own built in cutting lines, I had no need for a ruler and cutting mat either, other than when I came to cut the felt pages. The only machine stitched seams are the one to join the front and lining together (to be sure they wouldn't come undone) and attaching the felt pages. Everything else was stitched by hand.
And I don't want to think about how many hours it took by doing (almost) everything by hand - just imagine what dress making must have been like before the invention of the sewing machine?...
Although I haven't followed any one design/tutorial for the inside, if you take a look at the needle-cases I've pinned on Pinterest you'll soon realise mine is a combination of all sorts of designs.

It turned out far better than I could have imagined and has given me an idea for a new design (already) for a blog header.
All the fabulous pink gingham is used now, other than a thumb sized piece - I'm still trying to work out what I can make with it. Maybe incorporate it into a pin cushion for Mara?

I hope you enjoy my first proper tutorial - it was a lot of work but I enjoyed doing it, so might be doing it again.

Needle-case sneak peak #2

Mara's needle-case is just about done. It's turned out better than I could ever have imagined - I'm so proud of it. But then I always make my best work for others...
I'll put together a photo tutorial as soon as I have time so you can see it step by step. But for now, here's a couple of pics.

Needle-case sneak peak

I've made a good start on the needle-case I'm making for Mara. No sewing machine at the moment, so it's all hand stitched so far. I'm using the last little piece of pink gingham for the outside, along with a flowery print that I've had for a long time. It's one of those fabrics that is so gorgeous you just can't bring yourself to use it. I only bought a fat quarter and I've hardly touched it but I decided this called for something special. I haven't quite decided what to use for the lining - I have a couple of fabrics in mind, left over from a patchwork playmat I made for my friend's baby girl a few years ago. But more of that when I get to it.

The outside is coming along nicely so far. I used a muslin handkerchief as an interlining as the gingham is quite floppy and I haven't decided yet if I'm going to add a layer of wadding or felt to give the needle-case some body.
As well as some felt pages to hold the needles and pins, I might put a little pocket on the inside to hold a needle threader maybe.
I've bought lots of bits and bobs to put in her sewing kit - so much that I may have to buy a bigger tin to put it all in!!!
Hopefully, I'll find time to finish it over the Easter weekend and can do a proper reveal soon.